Potato Test Box

**Durgan** · 04-25-2009, 05:48 PM

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TestBox 25 April 2009 Potato Test Box
A test to determine if potatoes grow from the stem of the plant. The box makes hilling relatively easy. At the end of the season the boards will be removed carefully, starting from the top and the actions photographed. One potato, Red Pontiac, was chosen.

**nancycg56** · 04-25-2009, 05:55 PM

I saw something similar on tipnut and was thinking of trying it ~ http://tipnut.com/grow-potatoes/

**Durgan** · 04-25-2009, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by nancycg56

I saw something similar on tipnut and was thinking of trying it ~ http://tipnut.com/grow-potatoes/

I saw that , and figured the photos were staged at the critical points. The initial dumping is pure fabrication.
Why not remove carefully boards from the top and let us see the "layers" of potatoes?

Pounds of production relative to the weight of the seed stock is total nonsense. New potato weight is calculated as so many pounds per planted seed potato. Anything above five pound per plant is probably considered excellent. It has absolutely nothing to do with the weight of the seed potato.

**Durgan** · 04-25-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by nancycg56

I saw something similar on tipnut and was thinking of trying it ~ http://tipnut.com/grow-potatoes/

Now if you are crowded for space, the method depicted will obviously grow potatoes, but the high hilling is unnecessary. Probably two boards height would suffice, and each potato should have at least a square foot of growing space around the seed potato. Crowding always gives poor quality and quantity.

**nancycg56** · 04-25-2009, 07:31 PM

Thanks for your input ~ we figured we would only go a couple of boards high. More of an experiment, I guess.

I seem to be doing a lot of experimenting this year, LOL.

**pinetree** · 04-26-2009, 01:20 PM

We used that box last year to grow our potatoes.

We had termites that moved into the wood from under ground, this year we are using tires.

**nancycg56** · 04-26-2009, 01:49 PM

Termites will have to be considered here, too, I guess. Thanks for head's up!

**Durgan** · 06-02-2009, 07:15 PM

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PotatoU 27 May 2009 Potato Test Box
Pictures depicting growth and hilling procedure.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TESTP 2 June 2009 Another four inch board added to the box and the potato hilled.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PotatoS Summary: Potato Test Box

**Gardengal18** · 06-02-2009, 08:31 PM

I'm currently growing potatoes in a huge bucket that I got for $6 in Lowes (it's blue with rope handles for anyone who wants to try) So far, so good as the Plants are really starting to shoot up. Can't wait to dig my hands in there and pull up some nice potatoes!